Discussion

Help - overwhelmed with choice of restaurants in London

We will be in London for three days, staying at the Waldorf Hilton on Aldwych.

I've been looking at restaurants in the area, and have been overwhelmed by the large number of options and would appreciate any suggestions for good places in the area for breakfast and dinner.

We are looking for good places at reasonable prices, nothing too expensive. It doesn't need to be posh, what matters is that the food is good. In terms of cuisine, we are flexible. The main restriction is that my spouse does not eat seafood.

A few restaurants I found are Sofra, Cote, Axis, Indigo, The Amphitheatre Restaurant, San Francesco, Christopher's American Bar and Grill.

Any suggestions of places we should not miss? Any suggestions narrowing down the list of restaurants above?

From what I've heard or read, you can give Christopher's a miss. I'd travel over to Great Queen St. (very close to your hotel) and try Great Queen St. restaurant. The food is very good but book ahead as it's popular. On the same street is Moti Mohal for Indian cuisine.

Look at www.london-eating.co.uk or Toptable for some special offers. I'm not sure when you are arriving, but there are some good ones right now. The Aldwych area tends to have a lot of tourist spots. Don't be afraid to venture a bit out of the neighborhood for some very good places nearby and easily reached by the Tube.

We haven't gotten to Moti Mahal OR Quilon yet, but sooner rather than later. I'm trying to decide on a nice birthday dinner for Mr. Z.. feel like the OP here. Just too many choices! Right now One O One has a 50% off lunch or dinner offer. It's almost too good to pass up. Too bad you won't be in London a bit longer.

I'm actually a fan of Gaucho (a minority on this board), I had a cracking meal at their Hampstead branch a couple of summers back having gone there with low expectations (helped that it was on expenses and we had a bottle of Malbec off their reserve list). Finding humitas was an unexpected bonus.

Yep, we have their only northern outpost (great space - an old methodist chapel/meeting hall, still with the organ pipes fixed to the wall). My "standard" is however big a ribeye I feel I can manage on the night (usually 400g), chips, bearnaise and the humitas.

The Richmond branch is in a corker of a location - right on the river bank. I've been looking forward to a visit since I walked past it last year.

Glad to hear that you've discovered the humitas. You mention bearnaise which reminds me that one issue I have with Gaucho is the absence of chimichurri, the classic accompaniment for steak in Argentinian parillas.

Have you been to Ham House? It's worth a short stop if you've never been. It's right on the river, too (NT). I have a feeling you'll be too busy this trip, but it's interesting. I think you and oonth have me thinking we need to visit Gaucho in Richmond for my husband's yearly steak outing.

Maybe I just got a particularly skaggy bit of meat but it was quite sinewy - even for ribeye. Other than that it was a pleasant enough experience. Great location and, with last night's fine weather, it was possible to be seated on the terrace.

There was even chimichurri - coming as a dip with some freebie bread. I'm no expert but I thought it pretty good chimichurri. I'm more of a bearnaise expert - and theirs would have benefitted by more tarragon.

I don't know what business expansion plans the company might have but I think if they have any intention doing something they will have to reflect on the "London prices" which are simply not going to fly in most parts of the country. The steak, sauce, couple of sides, bottle of water and tip - £39 - that makes for an expensive meal, even if the steak had been up to their usual mark.

That does sound expensive, John, especially considering the quality of your steak. What did they charge for other cuts... porterhouse, sirloin etc.? I'm starting to forget things, but I seem to remember that ribeye isn't usually a big seller in American steakhouses, and I haven't eat that cut in years. I've seen hangar steak on menus here, but it used to be a rare sight in the States, although French restaurants in NYC often serve it.

Harters, That is what it cost to eat in the Gaucho. I don't go there anymore because of issues with quality, cost and the over-zealous upselling of the wait staff. I had a particularly embarrassing instance of this up-selling one evening at the Hampstead branch, I complained vehemently and the entire meal for 3 was refunded.

I am doing most of my steak eating these days at Goodmans and have built up a great relationship with the manager and the chef. They have gone out of their way to accommodate my requests.

The Hawksmoor is still a favourite because there you can get a great cocktail too.

Disappointing to hear about your mediocre experience. I spoke up for Gaucho because it seems like an easy target for naysayers and my one experience there impressed me way more than expected but in fairness I haven't been back in 2 years. I have been to some of the other board favourite steakhouses like Hawksmoor, Goodman and Buen Ayre and they will all easily run you £50 per person, steakhouses serving high grade beef are not cheap options. I know you're a Spanophile and one place where you can find slightly better value is El Faro where they serve very good beef from either Galicia or the Basque Country. Problem for you is that El Faro is in the Docklands and probably not best convenient for you to get to when you're in town.

I'd second Great Queen St for a great meal. You are also not too far from the Wolsely for a great breakfast. Axis and Indigo are pretty good but you could find better in the area for less than what you would pay at those two establishments. You could also walk up to Soho and try Bar Shan for Szechuan dim sum, or Arbutus for very good French/British cooking - they do a very good lunch special and within easy walking distance.

You will be only a few minutes walk from Endell Street (the other side of Covent Garden). I can thoroughly recommend Diana's Diner for breakfast. Good quality "greasy spoon" caff doing a really good fryup. Take an appetite with you.